Giovanni Trapattoni is realistic about his side’s slim chances but that hasn’t stopped him sending out a youthful midfield to take on the might of Spain at Yankee Stadium at 8pm local time tonight (1am Irish time).

Loughrea 1-12 Turloughmore 0-07

Kanturk edged a tremendous Munster Vocational Schools S’B’FC final at Ballydesmond after extra-time.

WHAT a disappointment in Semple Stadium yesterday.

EXPERIENCE, that was the major difference between these sides in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday as Crusheen advanced to the Munster Club SHC final against Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh on Sunday week.

VICTORIOUS All-Ireland minor winning manager Matt Murphy rounded off a great year when he guided his club Gort to their sixth Galway SHC title with a deserved success in front of a crowd of almost 9,000 at Pearse Stadium yesterday.

THEY may have missed out on the trip of a lifetime to Australia, but Mark Kerins couldn’t be happier to have another Galway hurling final to look forward to.

IT won’t bother Crusheen today, their title retained, but the question has to be asked: should this Clare SHC final have been allowed go ahead?

CHAMPIONS Crusheen booked a date against Sixmilebridge in the Clare SHC final following an impressive semi-final display at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI believes that pressure from Russia has resulted in Ireland having to play their next European Championship qualifier in Andorra’s tiny Communal d’Andorra Stadium.

WINNING silverware is rarely straightforward and Dublin can certainly attest to that after dragging themselves over the winning line to claim a 13th Leinster MHC title at Croke Park yesterday.

Clarinbridge 2-18 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-12

NEVER mind the new era in Irish politics, we seem to have entered a new era in Irish football press conferences.

JOHN O’BRIEN has been drafted into the Tipperary team for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford in the only change from the side that defeated Galway in the quarter-final.

DUBLIN have the perfect opportunity for revenge presented to them when they face off against Kilkenny in tomorrow afternoon’s ESB Leinster MHC final in Croke Park at 2pm.

Galway manager Ger Loughnane has made four changes in personnel and a number of positional switches to his team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Cork (Semple Stadium, throw-in 7pm).

CROMANE’s Donncha Walsh makes his championship debut for Kerry in Sunday’s Munster SFC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, one of four changes for the All-Ireland champions from the side that eased past Clare in the provincial semi final.

Experienced forward Eugene Cloonan has been ruled out of the Galway team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC second round qualifier against Laois (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 3.30pm).

Galway hurling boss Ger Loughnane has named three championship newcomers in his team to face Antrim in the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers this Saturday.

Kildorrery 3-16 Delanys 1-7

Galway 2-22 Cork 0-24

Laois 1-14 Galway 3-20

Kinvara's Colm Callanan has beaten off competition from Aidan Ryan to start as Galway's goalkeeper in tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Laois (Portlaoise, throw-in 7pm).

Galway manager Ger Loughnane has shown his hand for Sunday's NHL Division 1B encounter against Antrim at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 2.30pm).

SHELBOURNE manager Pat Fenlon wouldn’t rush any decision on his future in football.

Munster 1-16 Connacht 2-17

Portumna's Eoin Lynch will make his championship debut when Galway meet Westmeath in their final All-Ireland SHC Group A qualifier tomorrow evening (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 7.00pm).

Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20,

Alan Kerins banged in four goals as Galway got their All-Ireland SHC qualifier campaign off to a thrilling start in Portlaoise.

Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes has confirmed his panel for the forthcoming All-Ireland SHC qualifiers with teenage sensation Joe Canning a notable absentee.

Champions Cork hold a two-point lead at half-time in today’s 117th Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final, which is being watched by a sell-out 82,300 Croke Park crowd.

Whatever way you look at this afternoon's All-Ireland senior hurling final between champions Cork and pretenders to the throne Galway, it seems John Allen's Rebels will come out on top (Croke Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Kilkenny seem to have the knack of reaching - and more often than not - winning All-Ireland finals and today Galway try upset that trend in the Guinness SHC semi-final at Croke Park (3.30pm).

Galway staged a dramatic Croke Park comeback, hitting a goal and six points in the final 13 minutes of the first of today's All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals, to edge out Tipperary and book their place in the last four.

At 5.15pm, there's a distinct chance that all four semi-final spots in this year's All-Ireland hurling championship could be occupied by Munster counties.

Alan Kerins, an Under-21 All-Ireland winner in 1996, has returned to the Galway line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final tie with Tipperary (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm).

Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21

Group One leaders Galway have made two changes for tomorrow's televised All-Ireland SHC qualifier tie against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 7pm).

Waterford manager Justin McCarthy has resisted the temptation to tinker with his side ahead of Sunday's must-win All-Ireland SHC qualifier with Clare.

TYRONE have named an unchanged team for Sunday’s Ulster final clash with Armagh at Croke Park.

Clare 1-23 Dublin 0-9

MORE than a decade after watching twin brother Michael establish himself on the Galway hurling team, Liam Donoghue is all the more conscious of making the most of his time at the top level.